In the study, 40 healthy women ages 18 to 49 underwent bone biopsies and body composition measurements. The researchers then divided the women into three groups based on their levels of abdominal fat. The results: Those with the most belly fat had a 64% lower bone formation rate and 30% less bone volume—both markers of osteoporosis—compared to those with the least fat. (The researchers focused on belly fat because previous studies have found that abdominal fat, not overall body fat, is related to lower bone density.) “It’s not clear whether it is something produced by the fat itself, or whether lifestyle or other factors that lead to higher abdominal fat could also be leading to decreased bone quality,” says author Adi Cohen, MD, MHS, assistant professor of clinical medicine at Columbia University. It’s too soon to say whether weight loss or gain would have any effect on this process, Dr. Cohen cautions. (Fight belly fat with our complete fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle plan: Love Your Belly At Any Age.) To strengthen your bones, fit these three habits into your weekly routine: Add some resistance. Results from the University of Arizona’s landmark Bone Estrogen Strength Training study showed that 45 minutes of weight-bearing and resistance exercises three days a week, combined with calcium supplementation, can significantly improve bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. Make sure to include exercises that put a load on the spine, like squats, leg presses, and seated rows, which are necessary to increase bone density. Drink wine—in moderation. Menopause increases the rate of bone turnover, which speeds bone loss. But having one or two drinks a day might slow this process. When researchers from Oregon State University asked 40 early menopausal women who regularly had one or two drinks a day to stop drinking for two weeks, they found increased bone turnover that was reversed when the women resumed their normal drinking. Go green. Leafy greens like kale and spinach are rich in vitamin K, which promotes bone health by contributing to bone protein formation. One Harvard study found that low vitamin K consumption increased the risk for hip fractures among female nurses ages 38 to 63. More From Prevention: How To Prevent Osteoporosis